EP0030322A1 - Carrier package - Google Patents

Abstract

Carrier packaging for several bottles or similar items that are manufactured with a relatively large diameter tolerance. The carrying packaging consists of a blank (1) placed around the bottles or the like, the two end regions (3a, 3b) of which are mutually overlapping. At least one of these two end regions (3a, 3b) is provided with incisions (20) which extend into the side wall (2) adjacent to the end region. The incisions preferably run next to the bottles or the like, whereby tabs (21a, 21b) are formed which correspond in width to the width of the bottles. The closing method of the carrying packaging means that the individual tabs of one end area are pressed separately and elastically onto the other end area in accordance with the dimensions of the bottles or the like until they are attached to them. The device for closing the carrying package has fingers (30, 30a) which are guided on a chain and engage the edges of the blank in its end regions (3a, 3b). These fingers can be pressed elastically, whereby the tabs (21a, 21b) are able to compensate for possible tolerances of the bottles or the like.

Description

The invention relates to a carrying packaging for bottles or similar objects, formed from a blank placed around the objects, which can have holding openings for the objects and which by folding its end regions, at least one of which is divided by incisions into flaps, after being folded over the objects are locked in close contact with them.

The invention also relates to the method of closing the blank in a particularly tight and firm contact with the objects and to the device provided for this purpose.

A large number of packages for a group of bottles, cans or similar articles are known, in which such a group is enveloped by a cardboard blank, the blank being closed on the bottom or on the upper side of the package by locking elements or by gluing.

Such a blank locked on the floor is shown for example in DE-AS 16 11 838. It is also proposed here to tighten the blank evenly around the group of articles and to use fingers that can be moved relative to one another, which engage in openings in the blank and push together the partially overlapping base parts.

From DE-OS 28 10 564 a folding case is known, which is closed by means of insertion tongues, the bottom flaps of the folding case being more or less pulled together to adjust to the dimensional tolerances of the packaged bottles and locked in the end position. But even this folding envelope can only be contracted to the extent that the largest dimensions of the bottles determining the cross-section of each packaging allow, so that smaller bottles which happen to be in a packaging are not held firmly.

From DE-AS 18 17 238 a carrying package for objects to be arranged in several rows is known, which consists of a blank which is placed around the objects and whose end regions are mutually locked. For this purpose, a tongue lock is provided, in which the extent of the objects to be packaged can be changed by a corresponding readjustment. However, this adjustability is also limited to the entire packaging and does not allow individual adjustment to the dimensions of the individual objects to be packaged.

By evenly pushing together the end regions of a blank before and during closing, a relatively firm contact of the blank with the group of objects can be achieved, but the individual objects in the group are only held firmly if they determine the cross-section of the packaging Dimensions of the objects and possibly also the cut are completely the same. However, there are considerable dimensional differences in the glass bottles that are packed very often. If there are six bottles in pairs next to each other in a package, it can happen that in addition to a pair with maximum permissible dimensions, which determines the cross-section of the packaging, there is another pair with minimum permissible dimensions, to which the blank is no longer tight.

US Pat. No. 3,184,103 shows and describes an article carrying package consisting of a blank wrapped around the articles by connecting its end portions, at least one of which is divided by tab cuts, after the blank is wrapped around it Objects in close contact with the same is locked. However, no suggestion for the firm packaging of the individual bottles in a group can be taken from this patent either.

The invention has for its object to hold several objects in a carrier packaging so that the blank encloses all objects in a tight and firm system even with slightly different cross-sections of the packaging requiring dimensional deviations of individual objects.

To achieve this object it is provided according to the invention that the incisions extend into the part of the side wall adjacent to the end region of the packaging and are preferably arranged between objects packed next to one another, the tabs being individually narrowed in accordance with the dimensions of the objects they each enclose Attachment to which objects are connected in an overlapping manner. This solution makes it possible to apply a more or less large overlap of the ends of the blank for each of the possibly different cross-sections of the packaging and to adapt the cross-sectional circumference of the packaging to the dimensions of the packaged items so that all the items are tightly enclosed.

It is very advantageous if, according to the invention, pairs of tabs are glued overlapping one another. This enables a further adjustment of the packaging to the objects to be packed.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention also lies in the fact that the end regions to be connected are formed by the bottom parts of the packaging and the incisions from these bottom parts, optionally over round or sloping lower edge surfaces, extend into the lower part of the side walls. As a result, there is a very wide span of the packaging, which may also include further surface sections.

According to the invention, the incisions can be punched-out areas through which a strip of the blank material has been removed. This ensures that two adjacent loops do not interfere with the pushing together.

According to the invention, a method is provided for spoiling a carrying packaging in which, after a blank has been folded around the objects to be packaged, the end regions of the blank are pressed together so that they fit tightly against the objects until they have been connected. The tabs of one end region are pressed separately and elastically onto the other end region in accordance with the objects encased in the blank until they are attached to them.

This makes it possible to bridge larger tolerances of the objects to be packed during the packaging process.

A very advantageous method according to the invention also lies in the fact that each tab, which is separated by cuts from one end region of the blank and the wall part adjacent to it, is pressed individually and in accordance with the dimensions of the objects enclosed by it in the direction of the other end region and fastened to it becomes.

It is also very advantageous if, during the compression of the tabs, the edges of the holder openings arranged in the tabs on one edge of the packaging have been individually stretched as far as possible in the circumferential direction of the packaging in accordance with the dimensions of the items.

A particularly firm hold of the objects to be packaged is thereby achieved in the packaging.

A device according to the invention, which consists of transport devices for blanks, objects and filled packages, as well as folding devices arranged on these transport devices for folding the blank around the objects and of closure devices which have fingers guided on a chain which have edges in the end region of the blank attack and compress the end regions until the blank fits tightly against the objects, characterized in that a separate, elastically pressable pressure finger is provided for each tab separated from the end region of the blank.

With these pressure fingers, the individual tabs are applied to the objects with the same strength in accordance with the dimensions of the objects, so that all objects have an equally good hold in the packaging.

It is also very advantageous if, according to the invention, each finger can be pressed separately and elastically by a spring supported on a guide rail.

• Fig. 1 einen Zuschnitt für eine erste Verpackung;
• Fig. 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die untere Saite der aus dem Zuschnitt gemäß Fig. 1 gefertigten,gefüllten und am Boden verschlossenen Verpackung;
• Fig. 3 einen Schnitt durch den unteren Teil einer Verpackung und die Werkzeuge zum Zusammenschieben der Endbereiche mit elastischen Andrückfingern;
• Fig. 4 einen Schnitt durch eine Verpackung mit anderen Werkzeugen zum Zusammenschieben der Endbereiche, wobei die Andrückfinger elastisch angedrücktwerden;
• Fig. 5 eine Draufsicht auf ein Werkzeug gemäß Fig. 3
• Fig. 5a einen Schnitt ABB gemäß Fig. 5;
• Fig. 6 eine Draufsicht auf ein Werkzeug gemäß Fig. 4 und
• Fig. 7 eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die untere Seite einer zweiten Verpackung.

The invention is illustrated on the basis of two exemplary embodiments of carrying packaging for six bottles each and two exemplary embodiments of devices with elastically engaging pressure fingers. Show:

• 1 shows a blank for a first packaging;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower string of the packaging made, filled and closed at the bottom from the blank according to FIG. 1;
• 3 shows a section through the lower part of a package and the tools for pushing the end regions together with elastic pressure fingers;
• 4 shows a section through a package with other tools for pushing the end regions together, the pressure fingers being pressed elastically;
• 5 shows a plan view of a tool according to FIG. 3
• 5a shows a section ABB according to FIG. 5;
• Fig. 6 is a plan view of a tool according to FIGS. 4 and
• Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lower side of a second package.

The blank (Fig.1) consists of an upper surface 1 with mounting openings 7 for the bottle necks and finger openings 4, two side walls 2, two bottom surfaces 3a and 3b, upper edge surfaces 5 and lower edge surfaces 6, in which there are mounting openings 8 for the lower parts of the bottles. The surfaces of the blank are separated from one another by fold lines 11, 12, 13, 14. Strain lines 15, 16, 17 are embossed on the lower holder openings 8 and an incision 18 is provided, which enables the edges of the openings 8 to be stretched and limitedly deformed to adapt to the lower region of the bottles 10, which partially protrudes from the packaging.

The end regions of the packaging shown are formed by the bottom surfaces 3a and 3h, which are glued together in a partially overlapping position to close the packaging. So that each pair of bottles 10 in the packaging can be individually customized even with different bottle dimensions If the blank is firmly enclosed or shaped, the bottom surfaces 3a and 3b and the lower region of the side walls 2 and also the lower edge surfaces 6 are divided into tabs 21a, 21b by means of incisions 20. Each flap 21a, 21b thus comprises a part of one of the bottom surfaces 3a or 3b, a part of the lower edge surface 6 and a part of the lower half of a side wall 2, and it extends around the lower edge of the packaging created by the fold line 14 as well around the further lower edge formed by the fold line 13 and contains a lower holder opening 8. When a pair of tabs 21a, 21b are pushed together, the blank is pressed firmly around the pair of bottles enclosed by these tabs, the bottles also being pressed together and the holder openings 8 be stretched. The inner cross-section of the packaging, in particular in its lower region, is adapted to the bottles in such a way that each pair of bottles is firmly held in accordance with its dimensions and essentially independently of an adjacent pair of bottles. The overlap of the individual pairs of tabs 21a, 21b can be different (FIG. 2). Therefore, the lower mounting openings 8 can optionally also be stretched in different ways according to the transition radius from the trunk to the bottom of the bottles.

Fig. 7 shows the underside of a package in which incisions 20 and tabs 21a only in one end region, e.g. are present in the bottom surface 3a, while the other bottom surface 3b and also the parts of the blank adjoining them are not divided by incisions.

The flaps 21a and 21b are expediently pushed together after the blank has been folded around the bottles by means of pressure fingers 30 which engage at a suitable point on the flaps. In the present example, these pressure fingers 30 engage in the lower holder openings 8 and press against the one located under the bottles 10 Edge 81 of the openings 8. The pressure fingers 30 are pressed elastically onto each bottle, so that each tab can be individually stretched to the greatest extent.

As is indicated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the pressure fingers 30 are fastened in an elastically movable manner via a compression spring 31 to a pressure piece 32 which is guided on a roller chain 33, the roller chain 33 being supported on a guide rail 34. The fingers 30 run on a support rail 35. The pushing together of the bottom surfaces 3a, 3b, or the tabs 21a, 21b takes place during the continuous transport of the packaging through the packaging machine. The roller chains 33 guide the fingers 30 along part of the transport path with the packaging. When the bottom surfaces 3a, 3b are pressed together sufficiently, they are pressed together by a pressure rail 36, with previously applied adhesive causing the packaging to be closed. The fingers 30 are only pulled away from the closed packaging when the adhesive has set.

In the device shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the fingers 3Ja are fastened directly to the roller chain 33, which, however, is movable in the direction of the pushing together on pressure pieces 32a which are elastically pressed on by means of springs 31a, the springs 31a being supported on a rail 34a. So that here too each finger 30a can press a tab 21a, 21b individually, the length of each pressure piece is at most as large as the width of a tab.

Pushing the end regions 3a, 3b together by means of individual elastic pressure fingers 30, 30a is also advantageous in the case of blanks in which the end regions are not divided into tabs.

Claims (9)

1. Carrying packaging for bottles or similar objects, formed from a blank placed around the objects, which can have holding openings for the objects and which by connecting its end regions, at least one of which is divided by incisions into tabs, after being folded over the objects is closed in close contact with the latter, characterized in that the incisions (20) extend into the part of the side wall (2) adjacent to the end region (3a, 3b) of the packaging and are preferably arranged between objects (10) packed next to one another, wherein the tabs (21a, 21b) are connected individually overlapping one another in close contact with these objects (10) in accordance with the dimensions of the objects (10) they each enclose. 2. Carrying package according to claim 1, characterized in that pairs of tabs (21a, 21b) are glued together to overlap. 3. Carrying packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the end regions to be connected are formed by the bottom parts (3a, 3b) of the packaging and the incisions (20) from these bottom parts, optionally via round or inclined lower edge surfaces (6) to run in the lower part of the side walls (2). 4. Carrying packaging according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the incisions (20) are punched through which a strip of the blank material has been removed. 5. A method for closing a carrier packaging in particular according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein according to the. Folding a blank around the objects to be packaged, the end regions of the blank are pressed together for close contact with the objects until they have been connected, characterized in that the tabs (21a, 21b) of an end region (3a, 3b) are separated separately and elastically in accordance with the objects (10) covered with the blank are pressed against the other end region until they are attached to them. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, each tab (21a, 21b) from an end region (3a, 3b) of the blank and the adjacent wall part (2) is divided by incisions (20), individually and in accordance with the Dimensions of the objects 110) enclosed by it are pressed in the direction of the other end region and fastened thereon. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that during the compression of the tabs (21a, 21b) the edges of the in the tabs on an edge (13) of the packaging arranged mounting openings (8) for the objects to be packaged (10) corresponding to the Dimensions of the objects are individually stretched as far as possible in the circumferential direction of the packaging. 8. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to one of claims 5 to 7, consisting of transport devices for blanks, objects and filled packaging, folding devices arranged on these transport devices for folding the blank around the objects and closure devices which have fingers guided on a chain , which engage edges in the end region of the blank and press the end regions together until the blank lies tightly against the objects, characterized in that a separate, elastically pressable pressing finger (30, 30a) is provided for each tab (21a, 21b) separated from the end region (3a, 3b) of the blank. 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that each finger (30, 30a) can be pressed separately elastically by a spring (31, 31a) supported on a guide rail (34, 34a).

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